Editorial: Many questions, no answers on Oyster Creek

The Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey.

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission conference call Thursday with environmental advocates who are petitioning the agency to address safety issues at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey brought to mind a scene from one of those old Russian novels that satirized the hellish Soviet bureaucracy.

One by one, speakers expressed their concerns about Oyster Creek, pre- and post-superstorm Sandy, often posing specific questions. Each time, their points were met with silence. When each speaker concluded his remarks, the moderator from the NRC asked whether any officials in on the call needed clarification on any of the points raised. Again, nothing but silence.

Such is the way with the NRC, whose rigid public participation requirements fail to allow for any immediate - or, in many instances, long term - answers to any pressing questions.

"We have been taking notes," the moderator said at one point to a speaker who had the temerity to ask whether anyone from the NRC would have any response to any of their questions. "We will prepare a transcript of the meeting, which will be part of what we will use in evaluating the petition."

The petition is actually an appeal to the agency's petition review board of a previous petition the NRC had rejected in the wake of Sandy. The petition had sought to have Oyster Creek, which had been shut down for refueling at the time Sandy hit, to remain closed until a thorough assessment of the flood damage at the plant was conducted and made public. Whatever review was performed has been kept safely hidden away by Oyster Creek from citizens' prying eyes.

The lack of transparency was a recurring theme of questioners during the conference call. Among the questions posed and never answered: What kinds of inspections were done in the wake of Sandy? What has been done to ensure that there is no repeat of the 36 of 43 emergency sirens becoming inoperable, as they were during Sandy? In light of the increasing number and intensity of major coastal storms, what is being planned to further fortify the plant? Did any of the water from the storm surge penetrate the dry casks that store radioactive waste on site? What impact did the flood waters have on the electrical systems at Oyster Creek?

The attorney for the petitioners, Richard Webster of Public Justice, was understandably struck by what he called "the bizarre" petition process. "The people with the most information have the least to say. The process doesn't appear designed to shed light on issues or make public participation meaningful."

Tonight, the first public hearing of the state Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel, which was created two years ago, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean County Administration Building. It's doubtful citizens will get any answers. But, maybe if they are lucky, they will get an ally who can help them cut through the NRC bureaucracy.

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Editorial: Many questions, no answers on Oyster Creek

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission conference call Thursday with environmental advocates who are petitioning the agency to address safety issues at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey brought

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